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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test

Name: Date:

1. It is generally true that igneous rocks

(1) contain primarily evaporites.

(2) can be scratched with a penny.

(3) normally contain fossils.

(4) are composed of silicate minerals.

2. Which of the following is most likely to produce afragmental sedimentary rock?

(1) magma fractured on the ocean floor

(2) calcite crystallized from seawater

(3) gravel deposited in a silt bed

(4) limestone dissolved in cave formation

3. A volcanic rock is black, glossy, and smooth. How did thisrock most likely form?

(1) Rapidly, on the Earth’s surface

(2) Rapidly, beneath the Earth’s surface

(3) Slowly, on the Earth’s surface

(4) Slowly, beneath the Earth’s surface

4. A rock sample will most likely contain

(1) plants. (2) minerals.

(3) water. (4) wood.

5. Your teacher has brought a sample of water to class. Thesample contains a mixture of small rocks, sand, and silt(very fine soil) from the Mississippi River. After a fewhours, the sample settles. Which diagram shows how thesample will settle?

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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6. The diagram below shows how a type of rock is formedover time.

This diagram represents the formation of which of thefollowing types of rock?

(1) igneous (2) metamorphic

(3) sedimentary (4) volcanic

7. Dora wrote down some observations of four rock samplesshe was studying. Based on her observations, which of thefollowing rock samples is most likely a sedimentary rock?

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

8. Which type of rock is formed when hot lava cools?

(1) coal (2) igneous

(3) limestone (4) metamorphic

9. Which of the following best describes a mineral?

(1) the main nutrient in all foods

(2) a type of grain found in cereals

(3) a natural substance that makes up rocks

(4) the decomposed plant matter found in soil

page 2 Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test

10. Use the information below to answer the followingquestion(s).

The rock cycle is a process that alters sedimentary,metamorphic, and igneous rocks. The diagram belowshows the rock cycle.

Which process forms igneous rock?

(1) weathering of rock

(2) cooling of liquid magma

(3) heat and pressure changing solid rock

(4) compaction and cementation of loose material

11. Which type of rock contains the best fossil record?

(1) igneous (2) magma

(3) metamorphic (4) sedimentary

12. Humus, or organic matter, is decayed plant and animalmatter. Which Earth material contains humus?

(1) rock (2) mineral (3) soil (4) lava

13. As stream velocity decreases, which factor will likelyincrease?

(1) erosion of the stream bank

(2) deposition of material in the stream

(3) amount of material carried downstream

(4) size of the particles carried downstream

14. A lake is surrounded by hills covered with trees andshrubs. Which statement correctly describes how a changeto the plants in this area will affect this environment?

(1) Adding plants to the hillsides will increasesedimentation in the lake.

(2) Adding plants to the edge of the lake will increaseerosion by the lake.

(3) Removing plants from the hillsides will increase erosionon the hills.

(4) Removing plants from the edge of the lake willincrease sedimentation on the hills.

15. How do plants most commonly break large rocks intosmaller pieces?

(1) Plant leaves insulate surrounding rocks from extremetemperatures.

(2) Plant roots grow into cracks in rocks.

(3) Seeds from plants fall onto rocks and release acidiccompounds.

(4) Stems of plants surround and squeeze rocks.

16. The freezing and thawing action of water affects a rock by

(1) transforming the rock into igneous rock.

(2) chemically changing the rock.

(3) gradually breaking down the rock into smaller pieces.

(4) leaving behind sedimentary particles from evaporatedsolutions.

17. It is harder to read the wording on very old tombstonesthan it is to read the wording on newer ones. Thisdifference is most likely a result of:

(1) dirt filling in the letters;

(2) modern tombstones being made of artificial materials;

(3) weathering of the stone; or

(4) slow crystallization of the stone.

18. Wind, moving water, and moving ice pick up and move soiland other materials in a process known as

(1) erupting. (2) erosion.

(3) faulting. (4) fossilization.


19. The picture below shows the result of a geological eventthat changed a mountain rapidly.

Which of the following most likely caused the rapid changeof the mountain?

(1) landslide (2) snowfall

(3) wind erosion (4) volcanic eruption

20. The diagram below shows the same grain of sand movingup the side of a desert sand dune.

What causes the grain of sand to move in this pattern?

(1) earthquakes (2) volcanoes

(3) water (4) wind

21. Which factor has the most influence on the development ofsoil?

(1) climate

(2) longitude

(3) amount of rounded sediment

(4) slope of the landscape

22. Which climate conditions normally produce the greatestamount of chemical weathering?

(1) cool and dry (2) cool and moist

(3) warm and dry (4) warm and moist

23. Humus, which is formed by the decay of plant and animalmatter, is important for the formation of most

(1) soils (2) minerals

(3) sediment (4) surface bedrock

24. Which type of climate has the greatest amount of rockweathering caused by frost action?

(1) a dry climate in which temperatures remain belowfreezing

(2) a dry climate in which temperatures alternate frombelow freezing to above freezing

(3) a wet climate in which temperatures remain belowfreezing

(4) a wet climate in which temperatures alternate frombelow freezing to above freezing

25. Which long-term atmospheric changes would increase therate of chemical weathering of surface bedrock?

(1) decreasing temperature and decreasing precipitation

(2) decreasing temperature and increasing precipitation

(3) increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation

(4) increasing temperature and increasing precipitation

26. The accompanying diagram shows two landscape regionswith similar bedrock type and structure.

Which statement best explains why these two landscaperegions are different in appearance?

(1) Landscape A formed in a humid region, andlandscape B formed in a dry region.

(2) Landscape A formed in a humid region, andlandscape B formed in a glaciated region.

(3) Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape Bformed in a glaciated region.

(4) Landscape A formed in a dry region, and landscape Bformed in a humid region.

27. Which geologic feature is caused primarily by chemicalweathering?

(1) large caves in limestone bedrock

(2) a pattern of parallel cracks in a granite mountain

(3) blocks of basalt at the base of a steep slope

(4) the smooth, polished surface of a rock in a dry, sandyarea


28. Which activity demonstrates chemical weathering?

(1) freezing of water in the cracks of a sandstone sidewalk

(2) abrasion of a streambed by tumbling rocks

(3) grinding of talc into a powder

(4) dissolving of limestone by acid rain

29. The cross section below shows a soil profile.

This soil was formed primarily by

(1) erosion by glaciers

(2) erosion by running water

(3) capillarity and human activity

(4) weathering and biological activity

30. The diagram below shows some features in a cave.

Which type of rock was chemically weathered by acidicgroundwater to produce the cave and its features?

(1) siltstone (2) basalt

(3) quartzite (4) limestone

31. The diagram below represents a sample of a rock

This rock would be classified as metamorphic because itshows

(1) distorted banding

(2) an organic composition

(3) a mixture of minerals

(4) crystals from precipitation

32. The block diagrams below show cross sections of the crustin a landscape that has undergone gradual change.

The hardened lava in this volcano’s central pipe formed amountain peak in the late stage because the lava plug wascomposed of

(1) soft igneous rock

(2) soft metamorphic rock

(3) igneous rock that is resistant to erosion

(4) metamorphic rock that is resistant to erosion


33. Which statement best describes the formation of anintrusive igneous rock?

(1) Magma solidifies slowly, resulting in a coarse-grainedtexture.

(2) Magma solidifies slowly, resulting in a fine-grainedtexture.

(3) Magma solidifies rapidly, resulting in a glassy texture.

(4) Magma solidifies rapidly, resulting in a clastic texture.

34. The accompanying diagram shows a broken crystal of themineral halite.

The shape of the halite crystal is a direct result of the

(1) internal arrangement of the atoms in the crystal

(2) temperature at which the crystal formed

(3) type of surface on which the crystal formed

(4) stream erosion that changed the crystal

35. Which process is necessary for the formation of igneousrocks?

(1) erosion (2) deposition

(3) solidification (4) metamorphism

36. The accompanying diagram shows four rock samples.

Which sample best shows the physical properties normallyassociated with regional metamorphism?

(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D

37. Unsorted piles of angular sediments were most likelytransported and deposited by

(1) wind (2) glaciers

(3) ocean waves (4) running water

38. A decrease in a river’s velocity will most likely result inmore

(1) erosion by the river

(2) deposition within the river

(3) large particles being carried by the river

(4) dissolved material being picked up by the river

39. The cross section below represents the transport ofsediments by a glacier.

At which location is deposition most likely the dominantprocess?

(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D


40. The accompanying diagram shows rock material beingtransported by a mountain glacier.

The moraine deposits left when this glacier melts willgenerally be

(1) sorted by size and layered

(2) sorted by size and unlayered

(3) unsorted by size and layered

(4) unsorted by size and unlayered

41. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on theinformation and on your knowledge of Earth science.

Howe Caverns

Many scientists believe that the formation of therocks in which Howe Caverns is now found beganmillions of years ago. At that time, an ocean coveredthe eastern region of New York State. Hundreds offeet of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) sediments weredeposited in layers along the edge of this ocean.These layers eventually formed the sedimentary rocklimestone, which makes up the walls of today’s HoweCaverns.

Much later, tectonic forces raised this region ofNew York State above sea level exposing the rock toweathering and erosion. These tectonic forces crackedthe thick limestone, creating pathways for groundwaterto infiltrate and gradually increase the size of thecracks. Eventually some of the larger cracks providedpathways for the underground stream, which carvedthe winding passages of Howe Caverns seen today.

State two processes that caused these sediments tobecome limestone.

42. Identify one method that could be used to determine thatthe walls of Howe Caverns are made of limestone.

43. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on thecross section and data table shown below. The crosssection shows a sediment-laden river flowing into theocean. The arrows show the direction of river flow.Different zones of sorted sediments, A, B, C, and D, havebeen labeled. Sediments have been taken from thesezones and measured. The data table shows the range ofsediment sizes in each zone.

Data Table

Zone Major Sediment Sizes

A 0.04 cm to 6 cm

B 0.006 cm to 0.1 cm

C 0.0004 cm to 0.006 cm

D Less than 0.0004 cm

How is this pattern of horizontal sorting produced?

(1) High-density materials generally settle more slowly.

(2) Rounded sediments generally settle more slowly.

(3) Dissolved minerals are generally deposited first.

(4) Bigger particles are generally deposited first.

44. The accompanying cross section shows surface landscapefeatures that developed because of a humid climate.

Which change will eventually be observed if the climate ofthe area becomes very arid?

(1) The rate of chemical weathering will increase.

(2) The elevation of the entire region will increase.

(3) The landscape will gradually become more rounded.

(4) The slopes will gradually become steeper and moreangular.


45. The photograph below shows a sand dune that formed ina coastal area.

This sand dune was most likely formed by

(1) water flowing from the left

(2) water flowing from the right

(3) wind blowing from the left

(4) wind blowing from the right

46. The map below shows the large delta that formed as theMississippi River emptied into the Gulf of Mexico.

Which process was primarily responsible for the formationof the delta?

(1) glacial erosion

(2) cementation of sediment

(3) deposition of sediment

(4) mass movement

47. Which diagram represents a plateau landscape?

(1) (2)

(3) (4)

48. The boundaries of landscape regions are generally welldefined by changes in

(1) vegetation and soil type

(2) stream size and drainage pattern

(3) latitude and longitude

(4) elevation and bedrock structure

49. The accompanying table shows characteristics of threelandscape regions X, Y, and Z.

Landscape Region Relief Bedrock

X Great relief, high peaks, deepvalleys

Many types, including igneous and metamorphicrocks; nonhorizontal structure

Y Moderate to high relief Flat layers of sedimentary rock or lava flows

Z Very little relief, low elevations Many types and structures

Which terms, when substituted for X, Y, and Z, bestcomplete the table?

(1) X = mountains, Y = plains, Z = plateaus

(2) X = plateaus, Y = mountains, Z = plains

(3) X = plains, Y = plateaus, Z = mountains

(4) X = mountains, Y = pleaters, Z = plains

50. Base your answer(s) to the following question(s) on thegeologic cross sections below, which represent bedrockfrom different areas on Earth.

All the cross sections most likely represent areas of

(1) crustal stability (2) mountain building

(3) seashore erosion (4) plateau development


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Rocks, Minerals & Soil Practice Test 10/30/2013

1.Answer: 4

2.Answer: 3

3.Answer: 1

4.Answer: 2

5.Answer: 3

6.Answer: 3

7.Answer: 2

8.Answer: 2

9.Answer: 3

10.Answer: 2

11.Answer: 4

12.Answer: 3

13.Answer: 2

14.Answer: 3

15.Answer: 2

16.Answer: 3

17.

18.Answer: 2

19.Answer: 1

20.Answer: 4

21.Answer: 1

22.Answer: 4

23.Answer: 1

24.Answer: 4

25.Answer: 4

26.Answer: 1

27.Answer: 1

28.Answer: 4

29.Answer: 4

30.Answer: 4

31.Answer: 1

32.Answer: 3

33.Answer: 1

34.Answer: 1

35.Answer: 3

36.Answer: 1

37.Answer: 2

38.Answer: 2

39.Answer: 4

40.Answer: 4

Teacher’s Key Page 2

41.

42.

43.Answer: 4

44.Answer: 4

45.Answer: 4

46.Answer: 3

47.Answer: 2

48.Answer: 4

49.Answer: 4

50.Answer: 2

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